Relationship indicator jewelry and method

ABSTRACT

Relationship indicator jewelry ( 1 ) having a base ( 2 ) and a colored status indicator insert ( 3 ). The base ( 2 ) has at least one aperture ( 4 ) located thereon to permit viewing of the colored indicator insert ( 3 ) and at least one slot ( 5 ) for insertion of the insert ( 3 ). The colored insert ( 3 ) is used to indicate the relationship status of a wearer. For example, a red insert ( 3 ) may be used to indicate that the wearer is in a serious, committed relationship and is not available; a yellow insert ( 3 ) may be used to indicate that the wearer is currently dating but is still looking to date other individuals; a green insert ( 3 ) may be used to indicate that the wearer is not dating and is looking to date and a multi-colored insert ( 3 ) may be used to indicate that the wearer is seeking a same-sex relationship.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to jewelry, more particularly, jewelry thatindicates a wearer's relationship status.

The wearing of jewels or other decorative items has a deep-seededhistory that dates as far back as the earliest Egyptian civilizations.Jewels and other trinkets were adorned by the sophisticated and elite soas to impress upon others an aura of wealth, power and high socialstatus. Jewelry, especially ornate jewelry, became so much of a statussymbol that oftentimes the dead were buried with their most valuable andprized jewelry.

However, as time progressed, the availability of jewelry to the massesbecame commonplace. Although there are many degrees with respect to thematerials used in jewelry, which in turn affect the ultimate cost,jewelry has become a staple in today's civilized society. Both men andwomen alike wear jewelry for a variety of reasons, including to makeoneself more attractive, to express one's personal style and even toindicate a person's relationship status. The wearing of jewelry toindicate a relationship status not only serves as a constant reminder tothe wearer that he or she is in a relationship, but also serves to wardoff any unwanted advances by other individuals.

However, in order to indicate a person's relationship status, only oneoption is available: wearing a ring on a person's ring finger on his orher left hand. The ring may be an engagement ring (in the case offemales) or a wedding ring. Although the wearing of a ring on the ringfinger of the left hand gives a clear indication that a person is eitherengaged or married, many single individuals who are dating are left in aconundrum as they are not yet engaged or married, but are in a seriousand committed relationship wherein neither party is looking for otherindividuals to date.

In addition, persons who are divorced or widowed oftentimes findthemselves in quandary as well as perhaps he or she is not yet ready tostart dating again but no longer wishes to wear a wedding ring.

Moreover, many same-sex oriented individuals also find themselves in adifficult situation wherein a dater, who is interested in a same-sexrelationship, makes advances or receives advances from someone of theopposite sex.

Thus, a need exists for jewelry that serves as an indicator of thewearer's relationship status and/or whether the person is seeking asame-sex relationship.

The relevant prior art includes the following references:

Patent No. (U.S. unless stated otherwise) Inventor Issue/PublicationDate 6,715,314 Rose Apr. 06, 2004 5,355,698 Edmark Oct. 18, 19944,184,344 Pepin Jan. 22, 1980 4,077,237 Loper Mar. 07, 1978 2,427,257Campbell Sep. 09, 1947 5,109,789 Berman May 05, 1992 6,467,307 WatsonOct. 22, 2002 6,442,972 Watson Sep. 03, 2002 3,483,716 Stenzler Dec. 16,1969 6,050,695 Fromm Apr. 18, 2000

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide relationshipindicator jewelry that indicates a wearer's relationship status.

A further object of the present invention is to provide relationshipindicator jewelry that indicates a wearer's sexual orientation.

An even further object of the present invention is to providerelationship indicator jewelry that is attractive.

Another object of the present invention is to provide relationshipindicator jewelry that is interchangeable so as to indicate differentrelationship statuses.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a methodfor indicating a wearer's relationship status when wearing the presentinvention.

The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providingrelationship indicator jewelry having a base and a plurality of coloredstatus indicator inserts. The base has at least one aperture locatedthereon to permit viewing of the colored indicator insert and at leastone slot for insertion of the insert. The colored insert is used toindicate the relationship status of a wearer. For example, a red insertmay be used to indicate that the wearer is in a serious, committedrelationship and is not available; a yellow insert may be used toindicate that the wearer is currently dating but is still looking todate other individuals; a green insert may be used to indicate that thewearer is not dating and is looking to date and a multi-colored insertmay be used to indicate that the wearer is seeking a same-sexrelationship. The present invention is preferably in the form of a ring;however, the present invention may also be in the form of a pendent thatis worn on a necklace or bracelet or any other type of wearable itemwherein a base and inserts are used to indicate a relationship statusmay be used.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled inthe art upon a reading of the following detailed description inconjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and describedillustrative embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description, reference will be made to theattached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a base of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a first embodiment of an insert of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of inserting an insert of the presentinvention into a base of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a second embodiment of an insert the presentinvention; and

FIG. 7 is a front view of the present invention in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminologyused in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is asfollows:

1. relationship indicator jewelry, generally 2. base 3. insert 4.aperture 5. slot 6. base thickness 7. base diameter 8. insert thickness9. insert diameter 10. design 11. band 12. first color 13. second color14. necklace 15. loop 16. striped pattern

With respect to FIG. 1, a front view of the present invention is shown.The relationship indicator jewelry 1 of the present invention includes acircular base 2 and a circular insert 3, the latter of which has atleast one color located thereon. The base 1 has a predetermined basethickness 6, a predetermined base diameter 7 and at least one aperture4, which is preferably in the shape of a human eye. When the insert 3 isencompassed within the base 2, the insert 3, which may include apredetermined design 10 thereon, is viewable through the apertures 4.When the relationship indicator jewelry 1 is worn, the color of theinsert 3 serves to indicate the relationship status of the individual.Preferably, the most basic representative meanings of the insert colorsare as follows: red indicates that the wearer is not interested indating other individuals at this time and green indicates that thewearer is interested in dating other individuals at this time. However,other colors having other meanings may also be used as well, such as amulti-colored insert 3 indicating that a person is interested in asame-sex relationship.

FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 1. The insert 3 has apredetermined insert thickness 8 and a predetermined insert diameter 9wherein the predetermined insert thickness 8 and insert diameter 9 areslightly smaller in size than the predetermined base thickness 6 andbase diameter 7, respectively. In this manner, the insert 3 is easilyinsertable into the base 1.

In FIG. 3, a side view of a base of the present invention is shown. Thebase 2 includes a slot 5 of a predetermined size which permits a wearerto insert an insert 3 into the base 2 prior to wearing the relationshipindicator jewelry 1.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a front view of a first embodiment of an insert ofthe present invention. The insert 3 is has a first color 12, which maybe red (not interested in dating), green (interested in dating), yellow(already in a relationship, but willing to date), orange (seekingfriendship only) or any other color. The color of the insert 3 is ofimportance as it serves to indicate the relationship status of anindividual.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of inserting an insert of the presentinvention into a base of the present invention. Because the insert 3 isof a lesser size in insert thickness 8 and insert diameter 9 as comparedto the base thickness 6 and base diameter 7, respectively, a person mayeasily slide the insert 3 into the slot 5 of the base 2 so as to havethe insert 3 located within the base 2. When the base 2 and insert 3 arein proper alignment, meaning that the insert 3 is located completelywithin the base 2, a person may wear the relationship indicator jewelry1.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of a second embodiment of an insert the presentinvention. Similar to the first embodiment, the second embodiment of theinsert 2 includes a first color 12. However, in addition to having afirst color 12, the insert also includes a second color 13 and amulti-colored striped pattern 16. In this manner, a person may rotatethe insert 3 prior to wearing the relationship indicator jewelry 1 so asto signify if he or she is interested in dating other individuals, notdating or seeking a same-sex relationship. The colors 12 and 13 andmulti-colored striped pattern 16 are preferably divided from one anothervia a band 11.

Finally, FIG. 7 is a front view of the present invention in use. Therelationship indicator jewelry 1 of the present invention may be in theform of a ring, bracelet, necklace (wherein the jewelry includes atleast one loop 15 so as to suspend the relationship status jewelry 1from a necklace 14) or any other wearable item.

Although the insert 3 has at least one color located thereon, it ispreferably to have the entire insert 3 made of the same color foruniformity in appearance. However, the insert 3 may include more thanone color so as to permit a person to rotate the insert 3 when his orher relationship status changes, thereby eliminating the need to obtainan entirely new insert 3.

The use of the present invention will allow a person to display his orher relationship status while wearing an attractive item of jewelry.

It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific formor arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparentto those skilled in the art that various changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention and the invention is not beconsidered limited to what is shown and described in the specificationand drawings.

1. Relationship indicator jewelry comprising: a circular base having a predetermined thickness and a predetermined diameter; said circular base having at least one slot located thereon; an insert insertable into said circular base; said circular insert having a predetermined thickness and a predetermined diameter; said insert thickness is less than said base thickness; said insert diameter is less than said insert diameter; and said insert has at least one predetermined color wherein said at least one predetermined color indicates a wearer's relationship status when said insert is located within said base.
 2. The relationship indicator jewelry of claim 1 wherein: said base has at least one aperture.
 3. The relationship indicator jewelry of claim 1 wherein: said insert has at least one design located thereon.
 4. The relationship indicator jewelry of claim 2 wherein: said insert has at least one design located thereon.
 5. The relationship indicator jewelry of claim 1 wherein: said insert at least one predetermined color is red.
 6. The relationship indicator jewelry of claim 2 wherein: said insert at least one predetermined color is red.
 7. The relationship indicator jewelry of claim 1 wherein: said insert at least one predetermined color is green.
 8. The relationship indicator jewelry of claim 2 wherein: said insert at least one predetermined color is green.
 9. The relationship indicator jewelry of claim 1 wherein: said insert at least one predetermined color is multi-colored.
 10. The relationship indicator jewelry of claim 2 wherein: said insert at least one predetermined color is multi-colored.
 11. The relationship indicator jewelry of claim 1 wherein: said relationship indicator jewelry is worn on a person's finger.
 12. The relationship indicator jewelry of claim 1 wherein: said relationship indicator jewelry is worn on a person's arm.
 13. The relationship indicator jewelry of claim 1 further comprising: at least one loop located on said base.
 14. The relationship indicator jewelry of claim 13 wherein: said relationship indicator jewelry is worn on a necklace.
 15. Relationship indicator jewelry comprising: a circular base having a predetermined thickness and a predetermined diameter; said circular base having at least one slot located thereon; said base having at least one aperture located thereon; an insert insertable into said circular base; said circular insert having a predetermined thickness and a predetermined diameter; said insert thickness is less than said base thickness; said insert diameter is less than said insert diameter; and said insert has at least one predetermined color wherein said at least one predetermined color indicates a wearer's relationship status when said insert is located within said base.
 16. The relationship indicator jewelry of claim 15 wherein: said insert has at least one design located thereon.
 17. The relationship indicator jewelry of claim 15 wherein: said insert at least one predetermined color is red.
 18. The relationship indicator jewelry of claim 15 wherein: said insert at least one predetermined color is green.
 19. The relationship indicator jewelry of claim 15 wherein: said insert at least one predetermined color is multi-colored.
 20. A method for indicating a relationship status of a wearer using jewelry comprising a circular base having a predetermined thickness and a predetermined diameter; said circular base having at least one slot located thereon; an insert insertable into said circular base; said circular insert having a predetermined thickness and a predetermined diameter; said insert thickness is less than said base thickness; said insert diameter is less than said insert diameter; and said insert has at least one predetermined color wherein said at least one predetermined color indicates a wearer's relationship status when said insert is located within said base, said method comprising the steps of: a. inserting said insert into said circular base; b. wearing said relationship indicator jewelry; and b. viewing said insert wherein said insert indicates a wearer's relationship status. 